The Los Angeles Dodgers 39th round pick in 2003, 23-year-old Andy LaRoche was drafted late due to signability concerns, but has turned into a great investment for the team. Coming with the pedigree of a thoroughbred, LaRoche has gone on to establish himself as one of Minor League Baseball’s top talents.
He posted a solid .309/.419/.483 vital line in 230 at-bats at Double-A Jacksonville. His production and leadership lead to his mid-June promotion to Triple-A Las Vegas, where he continued to improve. In 202 at-bats he ranked fifth in the Pacific League in OPS with .550 (batted .322 with an OBP of .400).
Upon the conclusion of the season, LaRoche was diagnosed with a completely torn left labrum that will require surgery. Thought to have star talent, the third baseman could end up in Dodger blue sooner than later if he is completely healthy in spring training.
Project Prospect recently held an email interview with LaRoche where we asked him about how he thinks he will recover from his injury, his transition from Double-A to Triple-A, and his older brothers (Adam and Fred).
Project Prospect: You battled a torn labrum in your right shoulder for most of the season. How did the injury affect your hitting, fielding, and throwing?
Andy LaRoche: It didn't affect my baseball at all besides the fact that I was out for a couple weeks. I did rehab and came back 100%. It was only a slight tear though so it didn't require surgery.
PP: Do you expect to have surgery on your shoulder or are you currently favoring rehabilitation?
AL: I will have surgery on my left shoulder. I found out I have a complete tear in my labrum in my non-throwing shoulder.
PP: Do you have an idea about how long you will be out? And is there a chance that you will be close to 100% for Spring Training?
AL : Yeah they say rehab will be around 3 months so I should be ready for spring training.
PP: You had another great year in 2006, excelling at both Double-A Jacksonville and Triple-A Las Vegas. What allowed you to transition so well between the two levels?
AL: I think that it was just being with a great group of guys that I have been playing with for the past couple years and knowing what it takes to make it through a full season like staying in shape.
PP: How big of a talent difference is there between the caliber of arms at the two levels (AAA and AA)?
AL : You know it’s not that there’s more talent in Triple-A, it’s just that the pitchers are more polished and can hit their spots a lot better.
PP: Your plate discipline has improved from 2005 to 2006 (51 BB vs. 92 Ks then 66 vs. 64). Is there anything in particular you have done to aid this improvement?
AL : Yeah, my plan changed. I used to go up to the plate and look for a pitch above my knees and swing hard in case I hit it. This year I picked a certain spot where I wanted the ball and then I'd swing hard in case I hit it. If it wasn't there I'd lay off it.
PP: Your dad, Dave LaRoche, was an All-Star big league closer (now the Blue Jays Double-A pitching coach). What was it like growing up with a major league pitcher as a dad?
AL : It was great…just being around the ball park all the time with big leaguers. It made me the player I am today…and always getting batting practice thrown to me. Not many kids have that opportunity.
PP: Did your dad ever try to push you or your brother, Adam (the Atlanta Braves current first baseman), to become pitchers?
AL : No, he actually never pushed us to play baseball. My oldest brother, Jeff, was a pitcher, and Adam was in college and I closed for my college one year. But he actually didn't want me pitching and he just told us to do whatever we wanted.
PP: Speaking of Adam – who is having a career year – how competitive were you two with each other when you were growing up?
AL : It wasn't him and I who were competitive. We are 4 years apart. It was him and Jeff, who are only like 16 months apart, who were always competitive.
PP: Who was the better ballplayer prior to your professional careers? How about now?
AL : Well I think he always has been the better player, but hopefully I'm catching up to him. That’s why I'm in the minors and he's in the bigs.
PP: Your natural position heading into your pro career was shortstop, but the Dodgers eventually made the decision to move you to third base. How do you like the hot corner? Was transitioning there difficult?
AL : It wasn't a tough transition. I like it better because it’s just a reaction position.
PP: Are there any current or former ballplayers who you try to model your game after?
AL : I always liked Craig Biggio and the way he plays the game…just a hard nose player who makes things happen.
PP: Do you expect to return to Triple-A Las Vegas when you are completely healthy? Have you set any goals for yourself in the upcoming season?
AL : I'm not sure where I'll be next year. I'll just go into spring training and try and do my best and let the people upstairs make the decision on where they want me to go.
Denny Foster can be reached at denny.foster@gmail.com